NEWS OF THE WEEK
THERE will be profound uneasiness at the result of the nego- tiations between the British and Japanese Foreign Ministers in regard to the arms traffic on the Burma Road. This country had pledged itself to take no action which would weaken China's power of resistance to Japan, and the Burma Road which we control was the principal route for the transport of munitions and petrol to China, not only from Britain but also from the United States. The agreement which has been concluded appears to be in direct contradiction to this under- taking, including, as it does, a prohibition for a limited period of time (three months) of transit through Burma of the arms, ammunition, petrol and railway materials on which China is largely dependent for the conduct of the war against Japanese aggression. In all matters connected with the Far East we should obviously keep in the closest touch with the United States, and it is understood that has been done in this case. That being so, Mr. Cordell Hull's • statement last Tuesday, condemning the proposed closing of the road, is perplexing. American criticism, unaccompanied by any assurances of practical support, makes the situation still more difficult. The British Government, in making this temporary concession to Japan, may have had in mind not only the danger of becoming involved in war with Japan—a quite real danger—but also some general settlement between Japan and China which Britain might help to bring about. But for China any idea of such a settlement means nothing less than surrender—a form of appeasement " fraught with the greatest perils. To help Japan to disentangle herself victoriously from China is simply to free her for aggressive action elsewhere—action adverse to the Interests alike of Britain and the United States.
